The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-08-30
FIREmEN ARRESTED.
Guilty Of Originating q Number Of
IhoeAdiary Fires.
New . netectsve Caught One OF n.
CuIPrfss. whs duplicates Six
Drether Rirsuen.

The eeven cells In the City Prison
were occupied all day yesterday and
last night by seven members OF the
Painfeld Volunteer Fire Department
Theodore Van Ness, Lewis Van
Ness, Horace Van Ness. George Reed,
Philip Hspenny, Robert Skinner, and
John Jackson. The prisoners were
arrested between 3 and 4 O'Clock yes
terday morning, accused OF having
been the originators Of the 100 or more
inoendlary nres that have taken place
In the city during the last ten or
twelve years. About q year ago no
numerous did the fires become that
the Board Of Fire Uaderwriters Of
New York sent two Piskerton detect.
ives 10 PlsinHeld 10 ferret out the cul.
pnte. Four months atterward the
common Council offered q reward of
$l,OU0 Tor the capture aud conviction
OIL the guilty persons. Then the Pc.
lice COMMITTEES Of the Council EN-.
ployed Biward Murphy to run down
the incendiaries. Mr.. Mufphy's first
move was TO fecurs Job In the acott
Printing Press Wo ks. Then he made
himself solid with several OF the bows
employed there, and was introduced
by them 10 friends In the Fire Depart.
nent, where Mr.. Murphy suspected
she culprits would BIO found. Wednes.
day night being pay night at
the factory, all the boys would
bs on hand at Fred Oasper's beer
bottling establishment snd saloon,
IN Second street, and there they vould
meet the Are laddies and with them |
spend the night. A peculiarly Of
thaso Wednesday night meetings was
that there would almost invariably be
an alarm oil hte about midnight, and
ths engines would be called out.
Everybody In Oasper's would ran to
the hTe, have Q good time, and then
return 10 their stamping ground and
drink the free beer that patriotic cit.
sens would set mp. Murphy proved
himself . hale fellow we'll met, and 1t
vas not long bsfsre he was elected q
mtmber Of Bngine Company No. 3.
whose house 10 in Front street, near
Grove. He Gas soon admitted 10 all
the secrets OF the company, and In less
Than . month he wss convinced tn At
the mstority Of the fires were started
ey members OF the company, "just for
she ian OF the thing" He command.
Gated what he had learned 10 OhHir-
man Carey, Of ths Police Committee,
and II vas decided 10 eel q trap for one
OF te 6remrn, and capture him In the
set Of setting fire to q building. The
result. II 10 raid, was even better than
hsd bern expected. joan Jackson, q
member OF company No. J., was the
man selected 70 work upon. Murphy
30 him, On Friday evening,
that Q little bonfire be built some.
where. Jackson fell into the trap. A
Mouse en- Grant avenue, owned BY
Hnsef d Les Bros, ana occupied BY
vrasa, was selected 10 be fred, and
, O'Clock Sunday morning vas the
time set Murphy on Saturday
morning informed Committeeman
esrey Of the plan aud the latter
agreed 10 be on band and arrest Jack.
sou In the act. About midnight ,
Jsokoon aud Murphy started for the
hous', carrying vita them couple OF
boxes VI malchee and quart bottls OF !
Kerosene oil. After arriving at the
scene 81 the action jackson spilled 4
The Of on the back s,eps leading into
The Kitchen OF the house. Carey yas 4
On hand and he sneakei up behind
Jackeon ust 40 he drew q boz II
matches irum his pocket and Get irs
10 the saturated wood work. In
trios uAndcuhs we're snapped on his
willis and ha was q prisoner. Then
hurphy busted himself smotherinp
the hre ON ihH steps belors Il ehould
gain headwAy. This done a coach
vas called, aud the prisoner and his
csn,ors starred Tor tie police station.
Before they had rac ed Il, Jackson,
II 10 sllcg q, made confession impi.
eating twelve other members Of tbs
company and tao we'll known citirsua.
Whether this Il 20 or not, Carey re-
iuses T. say, but the fact that slr other
men we're arrested In le's than half On
houf sitter tbs arrival OF the prisol
at the station sivse y color OF ruth 10
re ory, Theodore Lewis and Horace
Van Neee we're found Il thu engine
house. Reid was found at home and
In nd, Hap,nDy In North PiAinfeld,
and Skinner near the police station. |
kOne o. them were Iold what he was
arrested Tor until he was safely brhind
The cell doors. When the fact OF the
autss was made known 10 the morn.
Ing there was trgneuduous excite
m, NJ ~ ihe city, End cfowds soon
gstaarrd around the station house.
Special police wefe called out and
we're kept busy all day. All over The
oily were gathered knots Of ten or
twelve Who exciledly discussed the
matter Never In the history Of the
city were people mOre completely
taken by surprise than by these o..
Tesn.